Falling For Ryan: Part Two

by Tracy Lorraine

  “I intend to, don’t worry. See you both soon,” I say, before heading to the kitchen with the mugs.

  When Molly reappears after saying goodbye, she has a box in her arms and a huge smile on her face.

  “What’s that?”

  “My Christmas decorations,” she says, smiling, looking like the stress with her parents the last two days hasn’t happened.

  “Oh.”

  “What?” she asks, her eyebrows drawn together.

  “Sorry, I just assumed you didn’t have any. You didn’t have a lot of stuff when you moved in, so I just assumed…” I trail off, feeling like an idiot.

  “Hey, it’s all right,” she says, putting her hand on my thigh. “I would have thought the same. These,” she says, going back to the box and opening it up, “are the baubles my gran bought me. She used to get me one every year. Mum hated them and refused to put them on our ‘designer’ Christmas tree, so my gran bought me a small tree to go in my room so I could put them all up. When I moved out, I made sure I had them with me. They mean a lot and hold some really good memories. After my gran died, Hannah would get me one every year instead. I guess this year will be my first without one,” she says sadly, but she’s soon distracted by a cupcake tree decoration.

  It looks like I need to get another present for Molly.

  “She would somehow always find out what day we would put the decorations up, and she would come around with my new one. I used to get so excited,” she explains.

  Shit, if I’m going to keep up that tradition, I need to get organised, seeing as we’re putting the tree up tomorrow.

  While I think about how and what I’m going to get, Molly pulls each decoration out one by one and explains its importance. I love listening to her happy stories from her childhood. I’m so used to hearing bad ones that it makes a nice change.

  Molly

  I walk back into the living area after my bath, and the sight in front of me takes my breath away. There are candles everywhere, and spread out in front of the tree Ryan and I spent the evening putting up is a blanket with loads of pillows, Ryan laid out across it in only his boxers. My mouth waters as ideas start to play out in my mind for what I want to do with him.

  “Come here, baby,” he says, holding his arm out for me.

  I quickly walk over and grab his hand as he gently pulls me down to him. My knees are just about to hit the floor when I see the little box in front of him. I look back at him, smiling. “Is that for me?”

  “It sure is. Go on,” he says, pushing it over to me once I’m settled, pressed up against his side.

  I turn the tag over and read what it says aloud. “Happy first Christmas.”

  “Open it.”

  I slowly pull the paper away, then slide the lid off, revealing what’s inside.

  “It’s a beach hut,” I squeal, pulling it out and hanging it off my finger, admiring the clear glass globe that encloses a little hut surrounded by sand and shells. I feel myself tear up as I stare at it, and Ryan makes me jump when he wipes a tear off my cheek with his thumb that I didn’t realise had dropped. “You made out last night that you didn’t know about my decorations, but you had this already,” I say quietly, because I’m totally amazed.

  “When you fell asleep last night, I went online, and by some miracle I found this at the garden centre. I got it on the way to the gym this morning. I couldn’t let you miss a year.”

  Ryan lowers us so that we’re lying on the blanket with me straddling him. I lean forward and pour everything I feel for him into my kiss. When I need to breathe, I trail kisses across his jaw. The feel of his stubble scratching my lips makes me squeeze my thighs together with memories of them being scratched by that stubble. I whisper, “I love you so much, Ryan. Thank you,” in his ear, before going to get off him.

  His eyes fly open as he grips on to my thighs tightly. “Where are you going?”

  “To put my new bauble pride of place. I’ll come back, I promise,” I say, blowing him a kiss when he releases his death grip.

  “Come back naked,” he says in a deep, sexy voice that makes a shiver run down my spine. “I want to make love to you in front of our first Christmas tree.”

  I quickly hang up my decoration before practically ripping the clothes from my body and lying back down so that every inch possible is touching Ryan’s body. He doesn’t waste any time in rolling us over so he’s hovering above me before letting me have the single most passionate, loving, and sensual experience of my life.

  “Hi, angels. How are you both?” Susan chimes as we walk into her kitchen, ready to start a full day of decorating the house for Christmas.

  “We’re good,” Ryan answers, guiding me over to one of the stools with a hand at the small of my back. “You guys all okay?”

  “Yes, I’m just disappointed Dec isn’t coming up for this. All of us should be here, you know?”

  “I’m sure he would if he could. He must be really busy to miss it,” I say, trying to lessen her disappointment, but I can’t help but agree. This is the family’s first Christmas without Hannah. I really thought he’d have made every effort to be here.

  “Yeah, I’m sure. Tea? Coffee?” Susan asks, looking between us.

  “Of course,” I laugh.

  An hour later, we’re all stuck in. Pete and Ryan are outside, putting up the lights around the house and garage, and Susan, Emma, Lilly, and I are in the living room, finishing off the first of three trees this house has during the festive season.

  I flop back on the sofa after putting the last decoration on the tree and let out a big breath. “Are you okay, Molly? You look exhausted,” Susan asks, sounding concerned.

  “Yeah, I think I’m fighting something off. I’ve been tired for a few days. I’ll be fine.”

  “If you want to watch, we don’t mind,” Lilly adds.

  “No, no, I’m good. Let’s go get started on the dining room.”

  We’ve just got the branches straightened out when the rumble of a motorbike brings my head up to look out the window. “Who do you know who rides a bike, Lilly?” I ask, only because I’ve never seen anyone on a bike here.

  “Um…oh my God!” she shouts, then takes off, running. I keep my eyes on the driveway, waiting to see who it is, but it’s not long before I get my answer because Lilly launches herself at the leather-clad body just as he pulls the helmet off his head.

  “What’s going on?” I hear Susan ask as she appears at the front door. “Declan!” she says cheerily, walking over to him for a hug. “Wait…why is my baby driving a death trap?” He shakes his head at her and pulls her in for a tight squeeze and a kiss on the head. I can’t help but smile when I think of the scrawny little boy he used to be, compared to the built six-foot-something man he’s grown into.

  It’s another couple of hours before we’ve all finished our jobs, and we’re gathering around the dining table for dinner. The smell of Susan’s roast has had my stomach growling for hours. It got so bad that I had to sneak into the kitchen and raid the biscuit tin when no one was looking.

  “So, were you lying when you said you couldn’t come?” I ask Dec.

  “Yeah, pretty much. I’m really busy, so there was a chance I wouldn’t make it. I managed to get everything done over the last few days because I knew I’d never hear the end of it if I missed today,” he says, looking at Susan, who gives him an innocent look, which makes everyone laugh.

  “So…” Susan starts, and I can practically feel all her children groan, wondering what’s coming next. “Who was that girl I heard on the phone the other day? A girlfriend?” she asks hopefully.

  “No Mum. Just a…friend.” Dec looks a little uncomfortable.

  Susan lets out a breath before saying, “I knew from the day you were born you’d have the girls chasing you, angel, but can’t you just pick a nice one to settle down with? Not…well, you know…” She trails off, letting us fill in the blanks. Yes, it turns out Susan’s precious little boy is a bit of a player. Pete think
s it’s great, and encourages him all the way, but Susan doesn’t like how he treats women, even though Dec insists they go into it knowing nothing serious will happen between them. “If only you could get over—”

  “Mum, enough,” Dec snaps.

  “Oh, Susan, leave the boy alone. He’s just enjoying his youth,” Pete says, sounding bored.

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  We all look at each other but quickly change the subject to try to break the tension.

  When dinner’s finished, I’m made to sit down while everyone else tidies up. I must really look like crap if they don’t want my help, I think to myself. I eventually get bored on my own in the living room and go to see if I can do something.

  “Where’s Susan?” I ask, noticing she’s been gone for quite a while.

  “She…uh…had to make a phone call,” Ryan stutters, making me wonder what the hell is going on, but in the end, I decide Christmas is only around the corner, so it’s probably something to do with that.

  “Who’s here so early?” I ask Ryan as the sound of our doorbell rings through the living area. He just shrugs his shoulders at me whilst mumbling for me to go and see around a mouthful of Shreddies.

  “Morning, angel,” Susan sings when I open the door. She comes marching in with Emma and Lilly behind her.

  “W-what are you guys doing here?” I stutter with surprise.

  “No time for questions, angel,” Susan says hurriedly. “Now go get dressed in something comfortable, pack a bikini, and get your butt upstairs in ten minutes. We’ll be waiting,” she says, pushing me into what she thinks is my bedroom. Luckily for me, most of my clothes are still down here.

  “But I’ve got work,” I say, as she physically starts shoving me towards my old room.

  “It’s all sorted, now do as you’re told.”

  I stand in the middle of the room for a couple of seconds as I listen to them head upstairs and greet Ryan before I step into action. I had already showered but had put my pyjamas back on so I could see Ryan before he left, instead of missing him while I got ready. I’m pretty glad I did now, because it looks like it would have been a waste of time.

  Within eight minutes, I’m upstairs with a bag in my hand, ready to go as instructed, even though I have no clue what’s going on.

  “Right, I’m off to work. You girls have a good day,” Ryan says, giving Susan a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before doing the same to me.

  “Come on, we’re going, too,” Emma says, grabbing my hand and tugging me back towards the stairs.

  We’re all settled in the taxi that was idling outside our house before I manage to get any answers.

  “I’m sorry, but what the hell is going on?” I ask, looking at all three of them.

  “Well…” Susan starts. “I was worried about you yesterday. You looked exhausted. And when I mentioned it to Ryan, he said he was concerned you were doing too much, so I organised us a last-minute day at the spa. Megan is meeting us there as Oscar is at nursery today, and the five of us are going to have a day of being pampered.”

  God, that sounds so awesome.

  We’re ushered towards the changing rooms once we get to the hotel and told to put our swimming costumes on and get dressed in huge fluffy white robes, before being shown to a private relaxation room. It has six chaise lounges, candles everywhere, soft music playing, and the biggest continental breakfast I have ever seen. It has every kind of fresh fruit imaginable, as well as all sorts of pastries. The smell has my stomach growling loudly, making the girls laugh.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes with drinks. Buck’s Fizz okay with you all?” the beauty therapist asks, and we nod enthusiastically. “Please help yourself to food, it’s all yours.”

  “You were right, Susan, I really do need this.” I say, once we are alone again.

  “You don’t need to thank us, Molly. We’re more than happy to help, eh, girls?” she asks the others, who all nod while stuffing their faces with all the goodies. “Anyway, you should be thanking Ryan. It was his idea.”

  “So, how are you two getting on, living together?” Emma asks once she is settled with a mountain of food piled on her plate.

  “Yeah, good, thanks. I think we’ve adjusted pretty well.”

  I hear Lilly mutter something like, “Yeah, I bet you have,” whilst chewing on a pastry, which makes me change the subject. I decided I wanted to tell everyone at Christmas, and that is what I’m going to do. “Is Dec back for Christmas now?”

  “He decided to stay, but he’s going straight back after New Year’s. He’s got something going on, but he won’t share. It’s frustrating. But you know what he’s like—always wheeling and dealing,” Lilly explains. Ever since Dec understood how to make money, he’s always been doing something, even if it was selling sweets—or fags, as he got older in school. God only knows what he’s up to down in Devon.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ryan

  Molly seemed to perk up a bit after her day at the spa. She was glowing that night when I came home. It was good to see her so relaxed after how hard she’s been working and the stress our families have caused—not to mention her quest for Christmas perfection. I swear watching her wrap a present is like watching an artist at work. I’m going to be embarrassed, handing my pathetic excuse for present wrapping to her when the big day eventually gets here.

  Tonight’s the night of our Christmas party. I finished school at one o’clock, which gave me time to go shopping and get all the food and drink, as well as helping Molly make sure the house is tidy and the guest rooms are set up. I invited my sisters, but Abbi is still doing anything she can to avoid Jax, and Liv has already headed up to Liverpool—both have promised to be here for our New Year’s party. I’m pretty sure Abbi has started something up again with Caleb, her childhood boyfriend, as she’s mentioned him a lot recently. I’ve told Molly about it and she has sworn me to secrecy, because she knows Jax will be crushed.

  “Are you nearly ready, Molls? They’ll be arriving any minute,” I call through to the ensuite where Molly is still faffing around. I’ve been ready for nearly an hour. I’ve done my first lap of the buffet and had two cans whilst I’ve been waiting for her.

  “Yes, stop getting your knickers in a twist,” she calls back with a laugh. “Right, what do you think?” she asks as she appears in the doorway.

  My heart pounds when I look up and see her in a dress so fitted, it looks like a second skin. It’s flesh coloured with black floral patterns over it and gold sequins. The top has thin straps and the neckline is shaped around the curve of her perfect breasts, showing off the cleavage I want to bury my face in. I run my eyes down over her tiny waist and curved hips to where the dress stops just shy of her knees, then continue my descent to her glittery gold fuck-me heels. Eventually, my eyes make it back up to hers and she raises an eyebrow at me, reminding me that she asked me a question. “I think it’s going to be a long night,” I say in a deep and gravelly voice.

  Her lips twitch up at the corners and she slowly saunters towards me. She doesn’t stop until her body is flush against mine. When she feels my arousal pressing against her stomach, she tilts her head to the side and flashes me a wide smile. “I presume you like the dress, Mr. Evans,” she says as she gently rubs herself against me.

  Leaning forward, I whisper in her ear, “You look incredible, but if you don’t stop what you’re doing, tonight is going to turn into a private party for the two of us.” I place my lips against the sweet spot under her ear and goosebumps prick her skin. I sneak my tongue out and gently run it along her skin, causing her whole body to shiver in my arms, but before I can tease her some more, the doorbell rings, ending our moment. “You’d better go and answer that…I need a few minutes before greeting our guests.”

  Molly stares me in the eyes for a couple of seconds before standing back and looking down at the obvious bulge I’m sporting in my jeans. I haven’t dressed up as much as Molly tonight, but I have put on my smartest jeans and l
ayered a shirt over my t-shirt. My hair is in its usual styled mess and I have my slightly smarter boots on instead of my very worn yet very comfortable ones, or my standard Converse. I thought I looked okay, but the heat in Molly’s eyes when she first saw me earlier told me everything I needed to know. I’m going to have to spend the whole night trying to keep my hands off her, even though the majority of people who are coming tonight already know about us.

  “We have a game for us all to play,” Chris announces when there’s a lull in the conversations around the room. Everyone has been here for a good few hours now, and those of us who are drinking are nicely buzzed. We’ve had a great time so far listening to Shane and Chris’ honeymoon tales, and generally catching up with everyone.

  A series of groans sound out around the room at his announcement. Those of us who have known him for a number of years know his games can be somewhat on the embarrassing side.

  “Go on then, what is it?” Molly asks from the other end of the sofa. I’ve had to resort to keeping as much distance between us as possible, or the need to touch her is overpowering.

  “Truth or dare.”

  Well, that sounds too normal for one of Chris’ games.

  Molly is obviously thinking the same, because I watch her eyebrows draw together in thought before she asks, “What’s the catch?”

  “What makes you think there’s a catch?” Shane asks, trying to look innocent.

  “Because we know you two better than you think we do.”

  “Well, let’s just say we’ve already planned the truths and dares,” Chris says with a wink, which makes Emma jump up from her seat next to Molly.

  “Right, I think that’s my cue to leave. I promised Mum I’d open Cocoa’s for her in the morning, so I need to get to bed.”